Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Country house constructed 1760 and largely burnt down in 1893. Incorporated into the present Neo-Georgian style house of 1909-1912, built to designs by Sir Edwin Lutyens. It comprises a central block with two wings linking the block to two 18th century pavilions. Built of brick with hipped tile roofs.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROLVENDEN MAYTHAM ROAD 1. 5272 Great Maytham TQ 8430 19/318 4.6.52. II*
2. This was the original name of the Manor but in 1721 James Monypenny built a house here which he called Maytham Hall. This was completed by his son Robert Monypenny in 1760 but was largely burned down in 1893. This house consisted of a main block of 2 storeys and basement and 2 pavilions containing the laundry and stables. These C18 wings largely survive, but the main building was rebuilt 2 storeys higher by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1909-12 for H J Tenant, who reverted to the use of the original name, Great Maytham. It is built of grey bricks (all stretchers) with red brick window dressings and quotas. Hipped tiled roof in 3 sections. Eaves cornice. Segmental headed sash windows with glazing bars intact. The main building consists of a centre block and 2 wings (in addition to the original C18 flanking pavilions). The central block has 5 windows and 5 dormers. Cornice above 1st floor. On its north-east or entrance front it has 3 storeys, attic and semi-basement. The dormers are surmounted by pediments. Central rusticated stone doorcase at the head of 8 wide steps with iron handrail, the doorcase having a curved pediment over containing a cartouche set in swags in the tympanum. The wings are L-shaped of 2 storeys, attic and semi-basement, and have 5 windows each (plus one window each to the inner face of the projection) and 3 dormers each without pediments. Brick aprons below the 1st floor windows. Rusticated stone doorcases with keystones over, at the head of 8 steps with iron handrails. The doorcase of the south-east wing also has a rectangular fanlight. The south-west or garden front has no basement. The central projection has 7 windows and 5 pedimented dormers. Stone doorcase with Corinthian pilasters, enriched frieze and curved pediment over containing a cartouche. On each side of the central projection are recessed portions of 3 windows and 2 dormers each, and then projections of 2 windows and one dormer each with chimney breasts in the angles of both Ls. On each side a passage at semi-basement level connects the Lutyens house with the original C18 flanking pavilions, the south-east pavilion was built as the laundry and the north-west pavilion as the stables. Each are of 2 storeys red brick. Hipped tiled roofs. Modillion eaves cornice. Two sashes with glazing bars intact. Round window in the centre of the north-west pavilion. Listing NGR: TQ8481930620 (1)

Additional info. (2-4)

A building and landscape assessment in 2007 concluded that the more modern buildings were in poor condition and generally detrimental to the overall character of the complex. (4)

HE archive material: BF082385 GREAT MAYTHAM, ROLVENDEN File of material relating to a site or building. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.
OP24845 View of the main entrance to Great Maytham Hall, Rolvenden

<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> OS 1:10000 1979 (OS Card Reference). SKE48165.

<3> DOE (HHR) Dist of Ashford Boro Kent Aug 1979 96 (OS Card Reference). SKE40185.

<4> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 2nd Ed 1980 499 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37946.

<5> Wessex Archaeology, 2007, Great Maytham Hall, Rolvenden, Kent: Landscape and Building Study (Unpublished document). SKE17044.

Sources and further reading

Related records